Matchmaking is both an art and a science. Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) in Lisbon, Md., has a 30-plus year history of rehabilitating and rehoming horses, and it has a specifi c adoption process in place. However, the unexpected success happens more often than you might think, says Sara Strauss, DEFHR’s head horse trainer.
“Horses sometimes choose their adopter, and it can be hard to explain,” she says. “One pairing that I will never forget is Yogi [now named Rogue] and Kim. Kim adopted Yogi in 2014, and I was very skeptical about the match throughout the process, as Yogi was a very hot, opinionated off-track Thoroughbred mare, and Kim was looking for a pleasure horse. Kim was set on adopting her and fell in love with her from the very beginning. That has not changed to this day.” Heart of Phoenix Rescue (HOP) is West